Smart pump

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for pumping air comprises a base portion, the base portion including one or more feet, each of the one or more feet having a storage position and an extended position; an extendable main body portion having a hollow interior; and a plunger portion having a plunger shaft and a handle, the plunger shaft being at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the main body portion, the handle having a width that is between about 0.1% and about 30% larger than a width of the base portion when each of the one or more feet are in the storage position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/507,367, filed on May 17, 2017, and titled “Smart Pump,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pumps, and, more particularly, to a foldable floor pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, to inflate an object, users can utilize floor pumps, foot pumps, or mini-pumps to inflate an object, such as a bicycle tire or an inflatable pool toy. Many floor pumps are large, bulky, and difficult to properly store. Foot pumps and mini-pumps can be hard to operate because of their small size and may not be very effective when used with an inflatable requiring a large amount of air.

The present disclosure is directed to an improved pump that solves the above and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for pumping air includes a base portion, the base portion including one or more feet, each of the one or more feet having a storage position and an extended position; an extendable main body portion having a hollow interior; and a plunger portion having a plunger shaft and a handle, the plunger shaft being at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the main body portion, the handle having a width that is between about 0.1% and about 30% larger than a width of the base portion when each of the one or more feet are in the storage position.

A method of pumping pair with a pump includes moving one or more feet of the pump from a storage position to an extended position, removing a hose from at least one hose holder coupled to the pump, forcing a handle connected to a plunger shaft upwards, the plunger shaft being caused to extend out of a hollow interior of an inner barrel of the pump; causing the inner barrel to extend out of a hollow interior of an outer barrel of the pump; coupling the hose to an object to be inflated; and forcing the handle downwards to force air out of the hose.

An apparatus for pumping air includes a base having a base portion, a first extendable foot coupled to the base portion, and a second extendable foot extending from the base portion, the base portion having a width of between about 110 millimeters and about 120 millimeters, both the first extendable foot and the second extendable foot having a width of between about 120 millimeters and about 130 millimeters; an extendable main body portion including an outer barrel having a hollow interior and an inner barrel configured to be slidably disposed within the hollow interior of the outer barrel, the inner barrel having a length of between about 300 millimeters and about 320 millimeters, the outer barrel having a length of between about 330 millimeters and about 360 millimeters; and a plunger having a plunger shaft, a plunger handle disposed at a first end of the plunger shaft, and a plunger flange disposed at a second opposing end of the plunger shaft, the plunger shaft being configured to be slidably received within a hollow interior of the inner barrel such that the plunger flange is disposed within the hollow interior of the inner barrel and the plunger handle is disposed outside of the hollow interior of the inner barrel, the plunger shaft having a length of between about 350 millimeters and about 390 millimeters, the plunger handle having a width of between about 130 millimeters and about 160 millimeters.

Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a pump in an extended mode, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the pump of FIG. 1A in a folded mode, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the pump of FIG. 1A, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is another exploded view of the pump of FIG. 1A, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C is a further exploded view of the pump of FIG. 1A, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the pump of FIG. 1A in the folded mode, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the handle of the pump of FIG. 1A, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A is a top view of the pump of FIG. 1A in the extended mode, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is a top view of the pump of FIG. 1A in the folded mode, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.” Where a range of values is disclosed, the respective embodiments include each value between the upper and lower limits of the range.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, a pump for pumping air is disclosed. For example, according to one aspect the pump is a bicycle floor pump, which is placed on the floor and operated with the user's hands. The pump is generally of a smaller size than other floor pumps, and is capable of transitioning between a folded mode and an extended mode. The pump includes a variety of features that minimize the overall size of the pump when in folded mode, but maintain effective performance of the pump when in extended mode. The pump is generally capable of use with bicycle tires, inner tubes, pool toys, pool floats, sports balls, or other inflatable objects.

A pump 10 for pumping air is illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The pump 10 includes a base portion 12, an extendable main body portion 18, and a plunger portion 20. The pump 10 also includes a hose 26 coupled to the pump 10. The hose 26 generally has a head that is configured to couple to the inflatable object. The base portion 12 generally includes a base 14 and one or more feet 16. Each foot 16 may have a folded (storage) position and an extended position. The extendable main body portion 18 is coupled to the base 14 and has a hollow interior. The plunger portion 20 generally comprises a plunger shaft 22 having a handle 24 disposed at one end thereof. The plunger shaft 22 is configured to be slidably received and at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the extendable main body portion 18, and is configured to telescopically extend from the main body portion 18 and telescopically retract into the main body portion 18.

FIG. 1A illustrates the pump 10 in the extended mode, while FIG. 1B illustrates the pump 10 in the folded mode. As is shown, in the extended mode, the feet 16 are configured to extend outwardly from the base 14 in a direction perpendicular to extendable main body portion 18. In the folded mode, the feet 16 are configured to extend upwardly from the base 14 in a direction parallel to the extendable main body portion 18. The feet 16 can be coupled to the base 14 via a hinge and can rotate about the hinge between the extended position and the folded position. Other mechanisms for attaching the feet 16 to the base 14 are contemplated that allow the feet 16 to transition between the extended position and the folded position.

The extendable main body portion 18 may comprise an outer barrel 28 with a hollow interior coupled to the base 14, and an inner barrel 30 that is configured to be slidably received within the hollow interior of the outer barrel 28. The plunger shaft 22 can thus be disposed within a hollow interior of the inner barrel 30. The inner barrel 30 is configured to telescopically extend from the outer barrel 28 and telescopically retract into the outer barrel 28, while the plunger shaft 22 is configured to telescopically extend from the inner barrel 30 and telescopically retract into the inner barrel 30. In FIG. 1A, the inner barrel 30 is telescopically extended from the outer barrel 28 in the extended position. In FIG. 1B, the inner barrel 30 is telescopically retracted into the outer barrel 28 in the folded position. The extendable main body portion 18 may also include a barrel cap 32 that is configured to releasably clamp onto the outer barrel 28, the inner barrel 30, or both. The barrel cap 32 may prevent the inner barrel 30 from extending from or retracting into the outer barrel 28 in order to lock the pump 10 in the extended mode or the folded mode.

In the extended mode, each of the feet 16 is rotated downward to the extended position, the plunger shaft 22 telescopically extends out of the inner barrel 30, and the inner barrel 30 telescopically extends out of the outer barrel 28. In the folded mode, each of the feet 16 is rotated upward to the folded position, the plunger shaft 22 is telescopically retracted into the inner barrel 30, and the inner barrel 30 is telescopically retracted into the outer barrel 28.

An exploded view of the pump 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2A. The plunger portion 20 may include a plunger flange 34 disposed at an end of the plunger shaft 22 opposite the handle 24. The plunger flange 34 is thus disposed within the hollow interior of the inner barrel 30. The inner barrel 30 generally has an inner barrel upper cover 36 that is disposed at an end of the inner barrel 30 opposite the base 14. The inner barrel 30 upper cover acts as a cap for the inner barrel 30, and generally has a small opening defined therein. The plunger shaft 22 is configured to fit through the opening defined in the inner barrel upper cover 36. The plunger flange 34 can then be attached to the plunger shaft 22 or formed on the plunger shaft 22 such that the inner barrel upper cover 36 can slide along the plunger shaft 22 and contacts either the handle 24 or the plunger flange 34 at either end of the plunger shaft 22. When a user pulls up on the handle 24, the plunger shaft 22 is pulled upwards to extend out of the inner barrel 30. Once the plunger shaft 22 has traveled the full length of the inner barrel 30, the plunger flange 34 contacts the inner barrel upper cover 36, and the plunger portion 20 of the pump 10 is prevented from being removed from the inner barrel 30 entirely. The plunger flange 34 thus pulls up the inner barrel 30 such that the inner barrel 30 telescopically extends from the outer barrel 28. The plunger flange 34 is generally sized similar to the inner barrel 30 such that the plunger flange 34 fills the entire circular cross-sectional area of the inner barrel 30. The plunger flange 34 thus seals off the inner barrel 30 and creates pressure inside the inner barrel 30 when a user depresses the plunger of the pump 10.

The inner barrel 30 may also include an inner barrel lower cover 38 that acts as a cap for the end of the inner barrel 30 nearest the base 14. During operation, when the inner barrel 30 is disposed within the hollow interior of the outer barrel 28, the inner barrel lower cover 38 will also be disposed within the hollow interior of the outer barrel 28. In an embodiment, the inner barrel lower cover 38 can be configured such that the inner barrel lower cover 38 completely prevents the inner barrel 30 from being removed from the outer barrel 28. In a further embodiment, the inner barrel lower cover 38 can be configured such that the inner barrel lower cover 38 only allows the inner barrel 30 to be removed from the outer barrel 28 upon application of an upwards force that is typically greater than any upwards force imparted by the user during normal operation. Other embodiments are also contemplated to prevent the inner barrel 30 from being removed from the outer barrel 28 during operation.

FIG. 2B illustrates a zoomed-in exploded view of an upper portion of the pump 10 of FIG. 2A, showing the handle 24, the plunger shaft 22, the inner barrel upper cover 36, the plunger flange 34, and the top portion of the inner barrel 30. FIG. 2C illustrates a zoomed-in exploded view of a lower portion of the pump 10 of FIG. 2A, showing the lower end of the plunger shaft 22, the inner barrel upper cover 36, the plunger flange 34, the inner barrel 30, the inner barrel lower cover 38, and the top portion of the outer barrel 28.

Other embodiments of the pump 10 are contemplated where the plunger shaft 22 and the inner barrel 30 transition into the folded mode via other mechanisms. For example, the plunger shaft 22, the inner barrel 30, and the outer barrel 28 may be foldably coupled such that the plunger shaft 22 and the inner barrel 30 fold down next to the outer barrel 28 in the folded mode.

Referring now to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the barrel cap 32 works with the hose 26 to secure the plunger portion 20 and the inner barrel 30 and to prevent the plunger portion 20 or the inner barrel 30 from inadvertently expanding out of the outer barrel 28 during non-use. The barrel cap 32 includes a first hose holder 40 and the plunger shaft 22 includes a second hose holder 42. The first hose holder 40 may include one or more U-shaped grooves that the hose 26 is configured to fit into. The size of the U-shaped grooves is such that the hose 26 snaps fits into the U-shaped grooves and is secured in place. The second hose holder 42 may generally be a small extension that projects from either the plunger shaft 22 or the handle 24. The hose 26 is generally looped around the second hose holder 42. When the hose 26 is secured by both the first hose holder 40 and the second hose holder 42, the plunger shaft 22 is prevented from extending out of the inner barrel 30. The inner barrel 30 is thus in turn prevented from extending out of the outer barrel 28. FIG. 3A illustrates a front plan of the pump 10 where the plunger shaft 22 is retracted into the inner barrel 30 and the inner barrel 30 is retracted into the outer barrel 28. The hose 26 is positioned within first and second U-shaped grooves of the first hose holder 40, and is looped around the second hose holder 42. FIG. 3B illustrates a zoomed-in view of hose 26 secured by the first hose holder 40 and the second hose holder 42. Generally, the hose 26 will be in this configuration when the pump 10 is in the folded mode, while the hose 26 will be unsecured by the first hose holder 40 and the second hose holder 42 when the pump 10 is in the extended mode.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top view of the pump 10 when the feet 16 are folded downward into the extended position. In this position, the feet 16 extend outwardly past the edge of the handle 24 when viewing the pump 10 from the top. The feet 16 generally provide a wide enough area for a user to place their own feet 16 onto while using the pump 10. This prevents the pump 10 from moving during use. FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of the pump 10 when the feet are folded upward into the folded position. In this position, the base portion 12 of the pump 10 is generally narrower than the handle 24, when viewing the pump 10 from above.

The pump is generally sized such that in the extended position, the pump is comfortable for users during operation, provides sufficient air flow to inflate a variety of different objects, and provides the user with a sturdy base to stand on so the pump does not move during user. In the folded position, the pump is sized such that it is compact and occupies a relatively small volume, such that it may be stored in a large variety of places.

The plunger shaft may have a length between about 350 mm and about 390 mm, between about 360 mm and about 380 mm, between about 370 mm and about 375 mm, between about 372 mm and about 373 mm, or about 372.5 mm.

The length of the inner and outer barrels is chosen such that the pump provides a large amount of air output while still maintaining minimal size when in the folded position. The length of the inner barrel may be between about 280 mm and about 340 mm, between about 290 mm and about 330 mm, between about 300 mm and about 320 mm, about 310 mm, or about 308.6 mm. The length of the outer barrel may be about 320 mm and about 370 mm, between about 330 mm and about 360 mm, between about 340 mm and about 350 mm, about 345 mm, or about 345.2 mm. The diameter of the inner barrel and the outer barrel is also chosen to provide a large amount of air output for a given length. The diameter of the inner and outer barrel is generally large as compared to other smaller pumps and thus gives the pump more surface area, which provides for a more stable pump when the inner barrel is telescopically extending from and telescopically retracting into the outer barrel. The outer barrel, the inner barrel, and any interior supports are also wider and more robust than other pumps.

Generally, the size of the feet is such that the feet take up minimal space when in the storage (or folded) position, but are able to provide a large surface area when in the extended position to provide a more secure base for the pump. The length of the feet may be between about 100 mm and about 150 mm, between about 110 mm and about 140 mm, between about 120 mm and about 130 mm, between about 122 mm and 123 mm, or about 123.13 mm.

The base is generally designed to be as narrow as possible, taking into account the functional components that are housed inside. The attachment points of the feet to the base (e.g. the hinges) are selected to provide strong and durable connections, but allow the pump to occupy a small area and volume when the pump is in the folded mode. The width of the base portion may be between about 100 mm and about 130 mm, between about 110 mm and about 120 mm, between about 112 mm and about 113 mm, or about 112.63 mm. The depth of the base portion may be between about 90 mm to about 120 mm, between about 100 mm and about 110 mm, between about 106 mm and about 107 mm, or about 106.41 mm. The height of the base portion may be between about 50 mm and about 80 mm, between about 60 mm and about 70 mm, between about 67 and about 68 mm, or about 67.38 mm.

The handle of the plunger is generally designed for maximum comfort. The handle has a generally cylindrical shape. The width of the handle is generally smaller than other pumps, thus minimizing the width needed to store the pump. Thus, the pump is generally easier to store for retailers and consumers. The width of the handle is generally sized to allow the user to comfortable grasp the handle with two hands. The width of the handle may be between about 130 mm and about 160 mm, between about 140 mm and about 150 mm, between about 145 mm and about 146 mm, or about 145.84 mm. In an embodiment, the width of the handle is approximately equal to the width of the base portion when the feet are in the storage position. In a further embodiment, the width of the handle is between about 0.1% and about 30% of the width of the base portion when the feet are in the storage. The diameter of the handle may be between about 20 mm and about 50 mm, between about 30 mm and about 40 mm, or about 35 mm.

In the folded position, the height of the pump can be between about 380 mm and about 440 mm, between about 390 mm and about 430 mm, between about 400 mm and about 420 mm, or about 410 mm. The width of the pump in the folded position can be between about 90 mm and about 130 mm, between about 100 mm, and about 120 mm, between about 111 mm and about 112 mm, or about 111.97 mm.

In an embodiment, the pump has an air outlet with an air outlet valve and an air inlet with an air inlet valve. Both the air inlet valve and the air outlet valve connect an interior of the pump with the atmosphere exterior to the pump in fluid communication. The hose may then be coupled to the pump at the air outlet to connect the hose with the interior of the pump in fluid communication. When the user pulls up on the handle to pull the plunger shaft out of the inner barrel and the outer barrel, the hollow interior of the inner barrel and the hollow interior of the outer barrel form an air chamber. In an embodiment, the air chamber has a volume of about 648 cubic centimeters (about 39.5 cubic inches). In another embodiment, the air chamber has a volume of between about 630 cubic centimeters (about 38.4 cubic inches) and about 660 cubic centimeters (about 40.3 cubic inches). The volume of the air chamber is equivalent to the volume of air that the pump is capable of displacing with a single stroke. The air chamber is in fluid communication with both the air inlet and the air outlet, and is thus in fluid communication with atmosphere exterior to the pump. The negative pressure caused by the plunger shaft being pulled out of the inner barrel and the outer barrel causes air to move from the atmosphere, through the air inlet via the air inlet valve, and into the air chamber. During the extraction of the plunger, the air outlet valve prevents air from moving from the air chamber through air outlet into the hose. When the handle of the plunger is pressed down by the user to force the plunger shaft into the inner barrel and the outer barrel, the air within the air chamber is caused to move from the air chamber, through the air outlet via the air outlet valve, and into the hose. The air then travels through the hose, where it can be used to inflate an inflatable object. During the depression of the plunger, the air inlet valve prevents air from moving from the air chamber through the air inlet.

To transition into the extended mode and use the pump, the feet are rotated about the hinge into the extended position. The hose is removed from the U-shaped grooves of the first holder, and released from the second hose holder such that a user can pull upwards on the handle of the plunger. The plunger shaft begins to extend out of the inner barrel 30 as the user pulls upwards on the handle. Once the plunger shaft has traveled the full length of the inner barrel, the plunger flange at the end of the plunger shaft contacts the narrowed interior portion of the inner barrel, causing the plunger flange to lift the inner barrel and the inner barrel to begin to extend out of the outer barrel. As the plunger shaft and the inner barrel are pulled upwards, air is drawn into the air chamber through the air inlet valve. Once the plunger shaft and the inner barrel are fully extended, the user can connect the end of the hose to the stem of an inflatable object. The end of the hose generally has a lever or other mechanism that may be rotated to secure the end of the hose to the stem of the inflatable object. The user may also connect the end of the hose to the stem of an inflatable object before the plunger shaft and the inner barrel have been fully extended. The user then presses the handle downwards such that the plunger shaft and the inner barrel begin to retract into the outer barrel. As this occurs, the air in the air chamber is compressed and forced through the air outlet valve, the hose, and into the inflatable object. The user can continue to press downward on the handle until the bottom of the inner barrel reaches the bottom of the outer barrel, and substantially all of the air that was stored in the air chamber of the pump has been forced out of the air chamber.

The pump according to aspects of the present disclosure has multiple different qualities that allow the pump to operate as efficiently as larger pumps, while maintaining a desirable size for both use and storage. The handle of the pump is sized such that it is large enough for a person to comfortably gasp the handle and operate the pump, but small enough to help store the pump in a small area. The feet of the base are configured to transition between a storage position and an extended position, which allows the feet to provide a sturdy base for the user's two feet while simultaneously allowing the base of the pump to occupy a space not much larger than the diameter of the outer barrel during storage. Finally, the main body of the pump that stores air to be pumped into an object comprises an inner barrel that is slidably received within an outer barrel. This configuration allows the pump to store a volume of air during use comparable to much larger pumps, but also to collapse into a much smaller area during storage. For example, the pump is capable of pumping a typical BMX tire or youth tire (having an overall diameter of about 20 inches and a tire thickness of about 1.75 inches) to a pressure of about 35 PSI in nine strokes. In another example, the pump is capable of pumping a standard mountain bike tire (having an overall diameter of about 26 inches and a tire thickness of about 2.1 inches) to a pressure of about 32 PSI in thirteen strokes. This pumping efficiency is comparable to larger pumps. Thus, the pump according to aspects of the present disclosure is able to operate as effectively and efficiently as larger pumps when in the extended position, but is also able to collapse into a smaller volume than larger pumps when in the storage position. The smaller size of the pump in the storage position is also a benefit for retailers, who will require less space to store and display the pumps, leading to an increased sales productivity per foot. Consumers are also able to store the pump more easily due to the smaller size. Finally, the smaller size of the pump is a benefit to manufacturers and distributors, as shipping size (e.g. cubic volume), size of container load, and carton material costs are highly important, and are positively impacted by the smaller size of the pump.

Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and sub-combinations of the preceding elements and aspects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for pumping air, the apparatus comprising: a base portion, the base portion including one or more feet, each of the one or more feet having a storage position and an extended position; an extendable main body portion having a hollow interior; and a plunger portion having a plunger shaft and a handle, the plunger shaft being at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the extendable main body portion, the handle having a width that is between about 0.1% and about 30% larger than a width of the base portion when each of the one or more feet are in the storage position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more feet are coupled to the base portion via a hinge, and wherein each of the one or more feet is configured to rotate about the hinge between the storage position and the extended position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extendable main body portion comprises an outer barrel having a hollow interior coupled to the base portion, and an inner barrel at least partially disposed within the hollow interior of the outer barrel.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plunger shaft is at least partially disposed within a hollow interior of the inner barrel.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the inner barrel is configured to telescopically extend from the outer barrel.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plunger shaft is configured to telescopically extend from the inner barrel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger shaft is configured to telescopically extend from the extendable main body portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hose coupled to the extendable main body portion.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the extendable main body portion includes an outlet and an outlet valve disposed in the air outlet, and wherein the hose is coupled to the extendable main body portion at the outlet.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a barrel cap coupled to the extendable main body portion, the barrel cap being configured to prevent the plunger shaft from telescopically extending from the extendable main body portion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the barrel cap includes a first hose holder configured to secure the hose.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plunger shaft includes a second hose holder configured to secure the hose.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle is sized to allow a user to grasp the handle with two hands.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes exactly two feet.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger shaft includes a flange at an end of the plunger shaft opposite the handle, and wherein the flange is disposed within the hollow interior of the inner barrel and is configured to contact an upper end of the inner barrel.
 16. A method of pumping air with a pump, the method comprising: moving one or more feet of the pump from a storage position to an extended position; removing a hose from at least one hose holder coupled to the pump; forcing a handle connected to a plunger shaft upwards, the plunger shaft being caused to extend out of a hollow interior of an inner barrel of the pump; causing the inner barrel to extend out of a hollow interior of an outer barrel of the pump to create an air chamber; coupling the hose to an object to be inflated; and forcing the handle downwards to cause air to move from the air chamber into the object.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: measuring an air pressure within the object; and responsive to the air pressure being less than a threshold air pressure, forcing the handle upwards to cause air to move from an exterior of the pump into the air chamber; and forcing the handle downwards to cause air to move from the air chamber into the object.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the threshold air pressure is about eighty pounds per square inch.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: decoupling the hose from the object; collapsing the inner barrel into the hollow interior of the outer barrel; coupling the hose to the at least one hose holder; and moving the one or more feet of the pump from a storage position to an extended position.
 20. An apparatus for pumping air, the apparatus comprising: a base having a base portion, a first extendable foot coupled to the base portion, and a second extendable foot extending from the base portion, the base portion having a width of between about 110 millimeters and about 120 millimeters, both the first extendable foot and the second extendable foot having a width of between about 120 millimeters and about 130 millimeters; an extendable main body portion including an outer barrel having a hollow interior and an inner barrel configured to be slidably disposed within the hollow interior of the outer barrel, the inner barrel having a length of between about 300 millimeters and about 320 millimeters, the outer barrel having a length of between about 330 millimeters and about 360 millimeters; and a plunger having a plunger shaft, a plunger handle disposed at a first end of the plunger shaft, and a plunger flange disposed at a second opposing end of the plunger shaft, the plunger shaft being configured to be slidably received within a hollow interior of the inner barrel such that the plunger flange is disposed within the hollow interior of the inner barrel and the plunger handle is disposed outside of the hollow interior of the inner barrel, the plunger shaft having a length of between about 350 millimeters and about 390 millimeters, the plunger handle having a width of between about 130 millimeters and about 160 millimeters. 